Author's Note: I'm still looking for help with Extrinsic Souls. Let me know if you're interested! Thanks for all the feedback of the previous chapters. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Visitor

I'm not usually one to fidget, but put me in a hospital waiting room with only fashion magazines to look at while a boy I found bleeding on the grass gets interrogated by TV reporters is laying in his room, and you've got a recipe for Fidgety Sam. Hmm, I feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest.

Chaos is the perfect word to describe Danny's hospital room. The press was in there trying to get an interview with their beloved hero. It's absolutely sickening at how these people can crowd into the room of someone who is trying to recover from brutal wounds. Danny is just a teenager. Okay, well, so am I, but right now he seems younger than me. I found him, so now I feel like I need to protect him.

Eventually, the security guards kicked the reporters out (thank the good Lord), so the stupid questions ceased. I was getting really fidgety now because the only people in Danny's room (besides himself) was two doctors and a nurse. Suddenly, a tall man appeared beside me. I jumped when I saw him; not because him being there startled me, but because of his appearance. He wore a very expensive black suit (Armani?), and his long grey hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He had bright blue eyes much like Danny's. A relative maybe? It didn't seem quite right...

He rose from the chair beside me and crossed over to the nurses station. I decided that there was an aura of evil around him. It was all in his eyes. After all, eyes are windows to the soul. The man and the receptionist at the counter exchanged a few words and then the man (somehow) was allowed to go into Danny's room.

I found myself thinking about Danny again. What had happened to him was a terrifying sight for me. The fight must've been really vicious because it looked like he had lost a vast amount of blood. The paramedics had told me he was lucky I found him so soon. Any longer and he would've died.

About fifteen minutes later, the grey-haired man left via elevator. Then, a female doctor came and told me that I'm allowed to see Danny. I smiled and started walking to his room. In the ambulance, I told the paramedics that I was Danny's friend. I pride myself on my acting skills, and they bought the story. I have to talk to Danny about Tucker and Valerie.

Mentally, I begin preparing myself for what's coming next. I know that I can do this. I've never had problems talking to strangers before, and I had to put on a good act anyhow – there was still a nurse in the room – because we're supposed to be friends. A conversation should always start out by mentioning a mutual observation or a mutual like. I'll just talk about him until the nurse leaves and then bring up Tucker and Valerie.

Placing my hand on the door knob, I inhale deeply, and then push through. My eyes immediately were drawn to him. He was a wreck; his raven black hair was refusing to lay down flat whatsoever, deep purple bruises and bright crimson scratches peppered his pale greyish skin. His cerulean blue eyes are mesmerizing – wait, I didn't mean it like that. I mean they're beautiful. Dang it. It's just a compliment, nothing else.

His eyes were following my every movement as I pulled a chair to his bedside and sat down. I made myself look away from the needle in his skin that was pumping blood into him. I chose instead to look up at him, but I couldn't make myself focus on his intense, crystal like eyes either. I resorted to pushing my hair behind my ear and clearing my throat.

"Hey, Danny." I smiled as I said the greeting. I was surprised that the words came out so smoothly.

For a moment, he just stared at me, almost like he was in a trance. I did a little cough which seemed to bring him out of the trance. He blinked and then replied, "Hey." His voice was weak and hoarse. He tried to sit up straight, but winced when he moved so he stopped. "What are you doing here?" He knows how to pick up on an act.

"Well, I'm the one who found you. You were in the park when you collapsed. You . . . you lost a lot of blood." I was trying my best to lace my voice with emotion, like a true friend would. He seemed to notice and the mischievous look in his eyes told me that he would keep playing along. "I'm just so glad that you're alright." I sniffed, pretending to wipe away a tear.

Danny took my hand. That's when the nurse came over. "I'll leave you two alone," she said sweetly. She exited the room, her heels clacking as she went. She closed the door on her way out. The moment the door shut, Danny withdrew his hand

"Okay, what's really going on?" Danny asked. Dude doesn't mess around.

"I wanted to talk to you. I know you know Tucker and Valerie and what happened to them." This wasn't true (I was just taking a shot in the dark), but I had to get him talking.

He sighed. "I was out walking and I saw him near the school–" He cut off his sentence.

"How were you out walking and nobody noticed – Oh, what the heck, that doesn't matter. Who's him?" I pressed.

"Vaughn." He said the name with disgust. Maybe this Vaughn character could be Sparky Sparky Boom Man? "He took them because I wouldn't become one of his puppets. It was an exchange. His puppet or my friends. I tried to save them, but I couldn't. They're gone," he ended sadly.

"Do you know where they could be?" Moment of truth.

"Somewhere in the Ghost Zone. Once I get healed, I am going to find them," he said with determination.

"They do miss you," I told him honestly.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right," he grumbled.

"They seriously do. Tucker may not act like it, but he does. Valerie, too."

Once I said her name, something unreadable showed on his face. It was like his eyes brightened at the sound of her name.

"Just give them another chance," I said. "They need you right now."

"As if they gave a lot of help to me. . ." There was an edge to his voice, and I didn't like how he sounded.

"You're not going to ditch them, are you?"

"No, but all they did to me when I wanted help was be annoying. They didn't know what it was like being disowned – wait. Why am I telling this to you? I don't even know you." The last sentence he said uncomfortably . . . almost like he did know me.

"Tucker and Valerie are my friends, too. Tucker told me he asked if you'd like to stay with him and so did–"

"Liar," he mumbled.

I blinked twice in shock. "What?" I knew what he said, but I remembered my dream.

"Tucker's lying."

Before he could say anything more, I was politely asked by a doctor to leave so they could further examine Danny. I got on a bus to take me home, and sitting there, I began to run the conversation we had through my mind again. What's unusual is Danny didn't ask me what me name is.

My parents ask me how Danny was doing, and I answered he was fine. He was somewhat functioning so that's good. News sure does travel fast.

They were happy because the Phantom Planet Day Parade is in two days. They know I hate parades, but they like to keep me updated about what's going on in this town. I'm sure I would know more about it if Tucker and Valerie were here. I miss them already.

School was in session the next day, and the people who got hurt from the fight yesterday were back – wrapped up in white of course. Paulina and Dash were a little bit nicer around me. I wondered if it's because I visited them, or because Tucker and Valerie aren't with me.

Before I knew it, it was time for history, and when I arrived to the classroom, I noticed that Mr. Lancer was still the sub. I asked him after class if they were having any luck finding a teacher. He confessed that all of the qualifying teachers didn't want to teach here. They didn't want anything to do with the school.

Paranoid fools, if you ask me. I wished someone would fill the spot soon though. I already had Lancer for English, and let's just say history wasn't his thing. Plus, he gets tiring after a while.

Lunch was depressing; no one to talk to now that Tucker and Valerie are gone. You'd think that I'd be used to being alone, but I had gotten so used to company from my friends, I hated to be eating alone. And by my quick glance at the other lunch tables, I really didn't have too much of a choice. Hope this doesn't become a habit.

The same boring routine continues for the next two days. My parents had halted the nursery construction. The hadn't gotten far; the walls were still white, untouched by paint. I made a dent in my ever-growing pile of homework, but I didn't have the concentration to continue working on it. My parents begin worrying about me, thinking that I've let depression overtake me. From an outsider, it would appear to be that way, but this is how I deal with things like this. I shut everyone out. No, it's definitely not the best way to deal with things, but this was the only way I could cope.

On the fourth day since Tucker and Valerie's abduction, I woke up to my phone's alarm clock. After showering and dressing, I floated down the stairs, and entered the kitchen. I sat down at the table seated for four with a small bowl of cereal. My parents had left the flat-screen on the local news channel, so I focused on the enthusiastic ginger woman while I subconsciously ate my Cinnamon Toast Crunch. There was radioactive green and deep purple colors mixed in with the blue-gray sky and black streets. Every person on screen seemed to be bursting with joy about whatever was going on.

These decorations are absolutely perfect for our first ever celebration of Phantom Planet Day!" The wind was rustling the woman's bright red hair, whipping it about her perky, cheerful face. She was about as fake as her tan.

I had forgotten all about the Phantom Planet Day celebration that Tucker and Val had informed me about. The camera man scanned the streets steadily, bringing attention to vivid balloons and glittering confetti flying through the air. "For citizens of Amity Park, this is their favorite time of the year. It's the special two day celebration where we can honor our heroes who saved humankind from the Disasteroid. Tonight, uptown will be lit up brighter than Mardi Gras! Food vendors, merchandise tents, and better-than-carnival games will be available for the whole family! Tomorrow at five o'clock in the evening will be a magnificent parade. Everyone is buzzing with excitement about the floats this year. Most of them are excited to see our favorite ghost, and hero, Danny Phantom!"

The ginger held a hand up to her ear for a second and then looked back towards the camera. "Speaking of Danny, a source is telling me that he was hospitalized yesterday–"

That's when I flipped the TV off. I wolfed down the rest of my breakfast, finished my orange juice like a shot, and grabbed the keys to my new car.

The Jaguar was a 2003 (a retro body-style) worth about $6,000. I could've had a Ferrari if I wanted it, but I had wanted a Jaguar since I was four. The key flipped out of a small black rectangular key fob with a press of a button. Kind of like a switch blade. Only, the key looked nothing like a switch blade. The small metal rod was about an inch and a half long with small vertical slices and notches at the top. Once I figured out how to put the key into the ignition and start the car, a steady purr rose from under my feet, and I was on my way to lovely dreaded school.

Apparently, the school was in the ghostly mood getting ready for the "special day". I passed several guys and girls who had spray painted their hair white, and I passed a ton of people who had in glowing, ultra-bright green contacts. As I was on my way to my locker, I passed Paulina. She had just planted a kiss on a heart-framed picture of Danny Phantom on her locker door. A big red heart surrounded his face along with previous smudges of bright pink lipstick.

Her blonde friend, Star, raised a questioning eyebrow at the action.

"What?" Paulina defended herself. "He's still hot." Star sighed and rolled her eyes in reply.

Classes went by smoothly and without a hitch until I arrived at English. Lancer assigned us a single paged essay on what does the term "hero" meant to us and who would qualify as our hero with at the least, three supporting details. It doesn't sound hard, but I still grumble. I mean, seriously, come on! We did that kind of stuff in elementary school! Before the bell rang, Lancer briefed us once more on what was going on with Tucker and Valerie's kidnapping. He reminded us to stay safe and follow curfew and blah, blah, blah.

While I got my things out for my next few classes at my locker, I overhear Dash and his guy friends talking about the Tucker and Valerie situation.

"What if they died?" I recognized Kwan's voice immediately. "What if that ghost with the muscles killed them?"

Dash sighed. "Dude, why do you care about them? They're nothing. They're gone. No one is even looking for them. No one cares."

Slamming my locker shut, I stomped over to Dash. I tapped him on the shoulder which freaked him out, thinking it was a teacher. He balled his fists when he saw that it was me.

"I do," I told him seriously.

Kwan crossed his arms and looked down at me with a smirk. "Oh, look who it is. It's Manson. Your bodyguards aren't here today."

My eyes were on Dash entirely ignoring stupid Kwan. "If you ever talk bad about my friends again, you're going to be sorry," I threatened, readying myself for what I was sure was coming next.

He rolled his eyes. "Please, I'm not afraid of a girl. You're just a goth freak. Face it; they're never coming back because they're dead."

That's when it happened. My many years of karate lessons kicked in and I delivered a punch to his gut which made him double over in pain. Wrong move on his part because that only made it easier for me to send my fist smashing into his face. And I did just that. I maneuvered my foot in between his and kicked his legs at from under him, causing him to fall on his back on the cement floor. I placed my combat boot on his chest and looked down at him with complete satisfaction.

"I meant it," I hissed at him.

I grabbed my books that I had dropped on the floor and went to my next class with a smile on my face. Dash wouldn't tell a teacher or the principal because that would mean telling them he got beat up by a girl. And besides, there was no proof that I had done anything to him. I had been extra careful to stay on the blind side of the camera in that hallway. Maybe I should consider being a spy or mercenary of sorts for my career...

The school day continued without anymore fighting (from my part), and I only saw Dash one other time in the halls. He had a nasty bruise above his jawline, but other than that, no visible marks. From what I heard, he was telling everyone that he walked into an open locker on accident. But when he saw me he whimpered and ran off to a classroom. Boy, did that make me feel good.

The drive home was silent, as was the trip in the elevator to my room. I asked one of the servants to bring me an Italian crème soda, and then I pulled out my minimal homework. I guess because of Phantom Planet Day being a holiday of sorts to Amity Park, teachers were lenient. Once my math was done, I began thinking about the essay Lancer assigned. Suddenly, I was struck with a jolt of inspiration on who I could write about. Lancer's giving us until next week to turn the paper in, so I did the outline and thesis and called it a day.

Tomorrow is Phantom Planet Day, and man do people go over the top. Houses along my street had strung purple, green, and cobalt colored lights around the houses and bushes, creating a Christmas-gone-Halloween look. Cobwebs were connected to the street lights in blankets, so there was a huge white dome of webs twenty feet above us. Ghosts that I had seen on TV had been immortalized in different materials and strategically placed around yards and fences. Basically, Halloween in September summed the whole charade up. The citizens seemed to really care for the ghosts that saved our lives. Not scared like you see in the movies.

I wish Tucker and Valerie were here to explain things to me because at school, decorations were even crazier – including the people. It's was like Comic-Con decided to camp out at Casper High. Everyone was thrilled for this day. Sure, it's nice to give respect and honor the ghosts that helped us in our time of need, but isn't all of this a tad bit too much? Maybe I need to get used to it. The town's probably only doing all of this because this is where Danny is from and he's the main person who saved us.

When I got home from school, I was shocked to see my parents and Grannie exited for Phantom Planet Day, too. Something must be in the air. But we've never experienced such festivities before, so I guess I should contribute it to that as well. All three of them wanted me to go downtown with them for the celebration and to watch the parade. I kindly rejected their offer – I hate parades, and what teen hangs out with their parents in public? I decided to stay home. Wasn't I supposed to anyway because of the mean and evil ghosts that were out and about? I guess no one cares about that for now.

I worked on my essay and other homework and talked to Bree on Skype. She had to go after half an hour, so I turned the TV on and popped a movie in. On the PA, I asked one of the butlers to bring me up some popcorn, Coca-Cola, and Peach-O's. (I can't help it, I have cravings.)

During Saw I, I heard some cheers and other loud noises from outside. Crossing over to my window, I peeked through the blinds to see a gigantic red eye staring at me. I jumped back, but the eye disappeared. I then realized it was one of the floats. Music swelled triumphantly, drowning out the movie. I turned it off, and began dressing for dinner, even though it would just be me dining. I suppose I do like dressing up all fancy-like.

I had pulled on a dark green lace dress, pearls, heels, and was putting the finishing touches on my french twist when I heard a deafening crash. I raced down to the kitchen, thinking there had been an accident, but they were doing just fine. There was so much noise in the room that it was not even possible that they could have heard the noise. I covered the whole thing up by saying I was just wanting to request there be a frozen strawberry souffle for dessert.

Then, I went to the basement. Perhaps the sound came from here instead. The elevator dinged as I arrived in the basement. The doors opened, and I gasped aloud. The room was a disaster, as if a tornado had whirled through. Mom would flip if she saw this mess. How could this have happened? No one hardly ever goes down here!

I looked around the chaotic room, and as I looked into the far corner, my breath hitched in my throat. A scrawny figure was curled into the fetal position, head down, hidden in the shadows.

"H-h-hello?" I said loudly and my voice startled him.

He shot up and spun around. We were shocked at the sight of one another. I recognized him at once.

Danny Phantom.

You would think a sane person would scream and run to the other direction at the sight of a ghost. I didn't do that. I couldn't. I stood there, frozen. I shouldn't get scared of a ghost especially when he's the hero who saved the Earth. Maybe it's the natural human instinct to be afraid of an unknown being.

I'm speechless. I don't know what to say to him. He's shocked that I saw him. I thought he would leave in a hurry because I caught him, but he didn't. Maybe I could use this as an opportunity to talk to him about what he knows.

"Hi." That's always a good way to begin a conversation."

"Hi," Danny said. "You're Sam, right?"

"Yes," I answered. "I'm the one who put you in the hospital, remember?"

He nodded. "I do. But...why?"

I'm shocked he would ask such a question. "Did you want to die? You were on the verge of bleeding to death."

"Everything would be better if I did..." He muttered to himself. I don't think I'm meant to hear that. Then, he spoke louder, enough so I can hear. "I don't know." How can you not know if you want to die? I decided not to ask that question aloud because it took him a while to answer it.

"I know what happened."

He shrugged. "So?"

"You were there. You know more. Tucker and Valerie are my friends, too."

"I know." He made a frustrated sigh. I was slightly taken aback.

"How do you know that?"

There was a long pause as he chose his words carefully, hesitating to even say anything.

"Other than you talking about them in the hospital? I've been inside this house for . . . a while. I know things about you and your family."

Okay. That's where I stop this conversation. It just took a dramatic, creepy turn. "You watch me and my family... all the time?" That does explain everything about what's been happening at this house. It was because of him.

He looked offended and disgusted. "Not like that."

"It's just weird to have a..." I forgot that word Tucker and Valerie said what Danny is. What is it again? Oh, that's right. "It's weird to have a Halfa in my house when I didn't know." Instantly, I remember the vase incident. Suspiciously, I ask, "Where you the one that threw my vase at Tucker?"

"Yes. He deserved it." I gave him a look. "It's a ong story," he warned.

"I have time."

"Sam?" I hear my butler, William, calling my name. He stood at the stairs. "What are you doing down here?"

"Uh..." I hope Danny left by now. I took a quick glance back to discover that he had left. So I made a lie. "I was just seeing if we had any decorations we could put up on the house for Phantom Planet Day."

"I only wanted to notify you that your dinner is ready."

"Thank you, William." I went straight to the second floor via elevator to eat my meal. After I'm done, I headed upstairs to my room. I shut the door behind me, and started to walk to my vanity. I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted Danny in ghost form sitting on my bed. He had an odd smile on his face.

"You have a habit of making yourself at home," I told him, jokingly.

"This actually was my home once," he sighed longingly.

"True," I said, nodding. I took a seat beside him on my king sized bed. "So tell me the story."

He scratched the back of his neck, now becoming uncomfortable. "Well, it's not very pretty. I'll start on the day of the Disasteroid..."